Though the weather has been slow to warm, spring sports are heating up at the regional high school.

The boys’ lacrosse team took a 16-3 loss to Weston, last year’s number eight MIAA seed, in their first home game of the season. Playing tough nonleague opponents, however, is a crucial part of the lacrosse program, said head coach Chris Greene.

“I think it’s really important to play up,” said Coach Greene, adding that he has already seen rapid improvement on his squad. The loss of key seniors from last year’s 10-8 team, combined with many returnees being plagued by illness and injury, has meant many young players are stepping into new roles earlier than expected. Five sophomores made their first start in last Thursday’s game against Cohasset.

Returning players this year include Chris Costello on attack, Nick Costello, Colby Gouldrup and Leif Iverson in the midfield, Will Jurcyzk, Conor Smith and Jordan Wallace on defense, and Nelson Dixon in goal. Transfer junior Charlie Everett will also take the field.

Coach Greene said 2011 will be a rebuilding year, but “I think we’re going to surprise people. It’s going to be a fun season, a learning season.”

The boys will play away at Bourne on Saturday before returning home for a 3 p.m. game against league opponent Bishop Stang next Thursday.

Softball

The softball team fired on all cylinders during the first game of the season, defeating Sturgis 19-3 in Wednesday’s away matchup. In her first varsity start, sophomore pitcher Emily Cimeno struck out four and walked one, giving up just four hits in five innings. Emily contributed to the offensive dominance as well, going two for four.

Fellow sophomore Kendall Robinson, also making her first varsity appearance, went two for three.

The Vineyard bats proved strong throughout the lineup. Seniors Crystal Miske and Emily Williston currentlyenjoy 1,000 averages, as each went four for four, with Crystal adding a walk and three runs.

Senior Jillian Sedlier contributed a triple and Sarah Williston had a double.

The team’s first home game will be today at 3 p.m. against league opponent Somerset.

Tennis

The boys’ tennis team has yet to lose a match — on both the group and individual levels — with the team off to a good 3-0 start. The team began the season with an away meet against Cohasset last Thursday, sweeping the first three matches before snow began to fall on the courts. Play was suspended for the number two and three singles matchups.

In their first EAC match, the boys had a hard-fought win against Bishop Feehan. Sophomore Justice Yennie, playing in the number three singles spot, took three sets and two hours to finish his Bishop Feehan opponent, prevailing 6-4, 5-7 and 6-3.

Singles players Reid Yennie, Kent Leonard and Patrick McCarthy swept their matches Saturday against their Sandwich opponents, with Patrick playing for the first time in the number three spot. Sandwich’s experienced squad proved no match for the Vineyarders, with doubles teams Jackson McBride and Justice Yennie (number one) and Ryan Sawyer and Justin Smith (number two) taking 6-3, 6-1 and 6-2, 6-2 victories respectively.

With their first two games of the season rained out, the girls’ tennis team finally got play started yesterday in their away match at Chatham (scores were unavailable at press time). Every varsity starter from last year’s 13-5 squad has returned to the team, said first-year head coach Connie McHugh, and with such a solid foundation already in place, the players plan to best their 2010 record this season.

Despite the considerable experience on the 13-girl squad, said Coach McHugh, “We’re still very young.” Just two seniors, Camila Fernandez and Michaella Gaines, will take to the courts for the Vineyarders this year.

The team has kept in match shape in spite of their cancelled games, playing a friendly match against the women of the Vineyard Tennis Center — Coach McHugh is the tennis center founder — on Wednesday. They play their first home match today at 3 p.m. against EAC opponent Somerset.

All-Stars

Four high school basketball players were named EAC All-Stars at the end of the 2010-11 season. Junior forward Peter Keaney and senior captains Ben Ciciora and Randall Jette took the honors on the boys’ squad. Girls’ senior captain Jillian Sedlier received the honor for the second year in a row.